Each year, the NFL Draft provides teams with a chance to instantly turn their franchise around by selecting a franchise-altering quarterback.
Last year, the Houston Texans did just that when they drafted C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall. Will anyone see the same luck this year? Here are the quarterbacks drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Which Quarterbacks Were Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Caleb Williams, USC | Chicago Bears
Round 1, Pick 1
As is often the case with the first overall pick, there are no secrets. It’s not as if someone could steal the Chicago Bears’ player.
Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall has been a foregone conclusion for nearly two years now. The Bears submitting the draft card was merely a ministerial act.
The USC QB now joins a suddenly loaded roster featuring DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift, with the hopes of finally turning the Bears into a perennial contender.
Jayden Daniels, LSU | Washington Commanders
Round 1, Pick 2
This was always going to be a quarterback, but it wasn’t clear which one. We now know LSU’s Jayden Daniels will hopefully become the Commanders’ next franchise quarterback.
The Commanders still have some work to do to fill out their roster, but Terry McLaurin as WR1 gives Daniels a nice starting point.
Where Daniels really shines is with his legs. He’s the most prolific dual-threat quarterback in this class, rushing for 1,134 yards in his fifth-year senior season.
Coming off a Heisman in his final season at college, Daniels will start from Day 1. The only thing standing between him and greatness is whether he can stay on the field.
Drake Maye, North Carolina | New England Patriots
Round 1, Pick 3
There were talks the Patriots might trade the pick. Ultimately, they stayed at home and selected the guy the Commanders didn’t — Drake Maye.
A two-year starter, Maye threw for 63 touchdowns against 16 interceptions with the Tar Heels. While not necessarily a rushing quarterback, he can tactically scramble, running for 1,209 yards in his three collegiate seasons.
Maye’s ceiling is as high as anyone’s. The North Carolina product will have his work cut out for him, joining a roster featuring exactly zero impact offensive players. Now, the Patriots need to surround him with talent that enables him to develop.
Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, Pick 8
I would imagine this is where literally every single mock draft that was perfect through seven picks got lit on fire. After signing Kirk Cousins this offseason, the Falcons did not use the No. 8 overall pick on a player capable of helping them win in 2024. Instead, they took Cousins’ potential heir, Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
MORE: Wide Receivers Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
Penix battled through multiple injuries and spent six years at college before breaking out as a fifth-year senior in 2022.
After leading the Huskies to the national championship game, he will now sit behind Cousins and hopefully develop into their QB of the future.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan | Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 10
The fifth quarterback taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is easily the one with the widest range of outcomes. J.J. McCarthy experienced incredible success at Michigan, going undefeated and winning a national title in his final season. However, he didn’t attempt many passes in Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy scheme.
With that said, the Vikings desperately needed a quarterback capable of starting Week 1. Their offense is too talented.
McCarthy may be a wild card, but he’ll have no shortage of weapons between Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and eventually, T.J. Hockenson.
Bo Nix, Oregon | Denver Broncos
Round 1, Pick 12
A whopping six quarterbacks went in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. It felt as though the Broncos were backed into a corner, given their QB room consisted of Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson, and Ben DiNucci.
Passing on Bo Nix, the last QB considered a potential Week 1 starter, would have essentially resulted in Denver punting the season.
A five-year college player, Nix broke out in his senior year after transferring to Oregon. He truly ascended in his fifth-year senior season, throwing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He has to be considered the favorite to start Week 1 for a Broncos offense with good, not great, weapons.
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina | New Orleans Saints
Round 5, Pick 150
The New Orleans Saints were without a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but still managed to land a potential future starter under center with South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler at No. 150 overall.
Rattler generated some buzz as a potential Day 2 pick after a strong Senior Bowl and improved decision-making during his time with the Gamecocks. However, his lack of consistency or elite traits makes his path as a potential future starter under center a bit shaky.
Fortunately, Rattler is in a position to learn behind veteran quarterback Derek Carr to start his NFL career.
Jordan Travis, Florida State | New York Jets
Round 5, Pick 171
Rodgers isn’t going to last forever, and the Jets traded away the player who was meant to be their long-term future at the QB position in Zach Wilson.
Adding a new passer in the 2024 NFL Draft was always in the cards, and they landed a player whose talent far outstrips his draft position. Jordan Travis has the arm talent and creative athleticism to become a bona fide quarterback in the NFL.
If it weren’t for an injury sustained late in the season, he’d have come off the board a long time ago. If you want to understand how important Travis can be for a team, witness how the CFB Playoff committee denied FSU a place in the playoff based solely on his lack of availability.
Joe Milton III, Tennessee | New England Patriots
Round 6, Pick 193
Joe Milton III has an incredible arm that could most likely throw the ball from Boston to New York, but he hasn’t showcased anything during his time across two college programs to suggest he can develop into anything more than an average quarterback with a canon.
Devin Leary, Kentucky | Baltimore Ravens
Round 6, Pick 218
When you have the reigning league MVP under center, you aren’t in the market for a quarterback to play any sort of significant role in the near future. Yet, Jackson’s durability concerns make a quality backup quarterback a priority, so the Ravens selected Kentucky signal caller Devin Leary at No. 218 overall.
Leary had one phenomenal year at NC State in 2021 but has failed to capture that level of production or consistency since. His ceiling with the Ravens is to become a reliable backup option for Jackson in the case of an injury.
Michael Pratt, Tulane | Green Bay Packers
Round 7, Pick 245
The Packers didn’t necessarily need to take a QB in this year’s class after taking Sean Clifford in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft. But Michael Pratt is a QB prospect who graded comfortably above Clifford on my board.
Pratt doesn’t have the same athletic talent, but he’s an experienced passer with the processing ability, general accuracy, and toughness to be a quality backup behind Jordan Love.
Other Position Groups in the 2024 NFL Draft
Here are links to the list of players in other position groups who were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- Running Backs Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Wide Receivers Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Tight Ends Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Offensive Tackles Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Guards Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Centers Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Defensive Tackles Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- EDGEs Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Linebackers Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Cornerbacks Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Safeties Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft
